Council Needs More Responsibility

In his editorial column ("Change the Council," Dec. 17, 1994), Patrick Chung correctly identifies the problems of the Undergraduate Council as lack of support and lack of power. Unfortunately, rather than suggesting ways to improve Harvard's student government. Chung sardonically advises the council to alter its organization into a "government game."

The undergraduate students of Harvard have common concerns. These concerns need to be voiced. The Undergraduate Council exists to voice these concerns, and moreover, to resolve them. That some form of student voice is necessary is essentially inarguable. Rather than decry the current student government, it would seem to be much wiser to suggest ways of improvement.

Harvard is arguably the most well known academic name in the world. When the student body of Harvard College makes a unified statement or action, it's news of potential interest to the world. The undergraduate community of Harvard has the power to serve as a universal role model for every other academic community or even non-academic community.

But rather than use this power wisely, we have chosen to waste it. In general, Harvard students are notoriously apathetic on becoming a unified community. As Chung notes in his article: "in the last council elections, barely 20 percent of undergraduates voted.... the council doesn't even have enough power for students to have a passing interest in it." The council is powerless because the students have no interest in it, not the other way around. As most of the College still remembers, students chose not to recommend an increased term bill alotment for the council last year. This rejection maintained the "powerless" status quo that Chung decries.

In order for the council to have power, the student body must grant that power. Being a student of Harvard College brings with it the responsibility of showing the world what a college community should be. If there are problems with the organization that represents Harvard undergraduates, we all have a duty to solve these problems.

Rather than idly whining, we should be advocating ways to improve our community voice. --David S. Goodman '97